4:30 PM | *Get ready, big changes are coming*
Paul Dorian
Discussion
The Arctic floodgates have opened up and it will be quite a week in the Mid-Atlantic region. The first sign of the dramatic changes coming will be the noticeable increase in winds on Sunday as a strong cold frontal system approaches region. Much colder air will move in for Monday and there is also the chance for some snow shower activity later in the day and again Monday night. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday will be bitter cold, easily the coldest of the season so far, with daytime highs confined to the 20’s and nighttime lows dropping into the teens (and these estimates may be on the high side). More snow showers are possible around here Wednesday night as a weak disturbance passes by to our north. A more significant storm will threaten the eastern states later Friday into Saturday and accumulating snow is certainly a threat for the region. Stay tuned on that as it is still many days away. This late week storm will be followed by another bitter cold air mass for later next weekend. Even longer term, there certainly are signs (e.g. continued stratospheric warming) for additional Arctic cold air outbreaks right into the month of February.
Elsewhere, temperatures are likely to hold below zero in Minneapolis, MN all day for the first time in years on Monday. Below zero readings are quite likely in many parts of the Upper Midwest including Madison, WI and Chicago, IL. The Great Lakes snow machine will become very active over the next several days for those locations just downstream of the Lakes as howling bitter cold winds cross the still unfrozen waters.
Get ready, quite a change is coming from the 50 degrees reached on Saturday.